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Oral History Interview with Bert Nettles, July 13, 1974. Interview A-0015. Southern Oral History Program Collection (#4007) in the Southern Oral History Program Collection, Southern Historical Collection, Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

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JACK BASS:

How much has Watergate done to retard the growth of the Republican party
in the South and in Alabama?

BERT NETTLES:

Well, primarily it's going to be a pause . . . it's not a real major
stumbling block because people don't relate Watergate to local
Republicans. But it's cut us severely in loss of leadership and loss of
attractive candidates. People who were about ready to make their jump
and then pulled back. It's not an auspicious time to-

JACK BASS:

What would happen if a Republican Congressman voted for impeachment? In
the South. Would it hurt him?

BERT NETTLES:

Yes.

JACK BASS:

In the long run?

BERT NETTLES:

Long run probably not. You've got some courageous southern Congressmen up
there. You've got some good ones. Jack Edwards, I think, is quite good.
How he's going to vote, I don't know. But the immediate, short range,
Jack could be re-elected. One thing, he doesn't have any solid Democrat
opposition. You take a fellow like John Buchanan. John's probably very
worried about this. I mean . . . he's very worried not from the
standpoint . . . . He's very concerned about what's been going on.
Background as minister. And yet he's in an area where there are many
hard core types, Nixon supporters. Nixon support. You've got a hard core
there who would turn on him in a minute. And they've got a viable
alternative who would be picking up a lot of solid Democrat votes anyway
with this lady. It's a very uncomfortable position that
they're thrust into. I'm sure this has probably led to
Rhodes and some of the others calling on the president to resign. To get
them off that box. Because, with Buchanan, he's probably a prime example
of damned if he does and damned if he doesn't. And he's going to have to
vote on it at a critical time. In August, early September.